Case in point — this past weekend, Bruce, my mom and I headed to Rhode Island for the day. We have a sailboat that’s been in storage for years. We haven’t had the time or money to get it in the water but every year we make a trek up there to see what shape it’s in and empty any pooled water before winter sets in.

So we were about to walk out the door on Saturday morning, me with my laptop bag strung across my shoulder, when they both gave me an incredulous look. “What are you doing with THAT? You aren’t going to work in the car are you?” Well yes, I said, I have TONS of work to do. That’s when they did a tag team number on me and insisted that I leave it behind. And much to my dismay (and later delight) I begrudgingly did.

But here’s the thing. I totally needed a day without work — both my body and mind were screaming for some much needed down time. As a business owner, I’ve gotten in the habit of working pretty much everyday, even if only for a few minutes. But the reality is, we all need a break, we need to quiet our minds and get away from the daily grind. And not working in the car allowed me to be much more present, take part in the conversation (instead of half-listening like I’m apt to do when multi-tasking) and thoroughly enjoy my favorite Saturday morning show (”Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me” on NPR).

And taking that break seriously does support better health. It supports a healthy immune system, it reduces stress and it helps us laugh and have fun — all key factors in creating great health, especially during these over-the-top, busy. super-stressful times in which most of us live.

What about you? How adept are you at giving yourself a total break from your hectic routine and indulging yourself a bit? What do you and how does it support your health? I’m reminded that I need to plan days last this past Saturday a lot more often.

If you don’t have time to peel and cut a pumpkin, here are a few easy tips:

–  Use canned pumpkin but look for pure pumpkin, not pumpkin puree (usually loaded with sugar).
–  Can’t find fresh pumpkin? Try substituting butternut squash, orange bell peppers or sweet potatoes instead. All are      chock full of many of the same nutrients.
–  In a mood for a healthy snack? Grab a handful of raw pumpkin seeds and eat them by themselves, or add to your favorite soup or salad for an added burst of flavor.

Often called a superfood, tomatoes have numerous health benefits. They contain lycopene, which is a powerful antioxidant, and helps prevent cancer, especially prostate cancer in men. They also have fiber, potassium, Vitamin C, beta-carotene and lutein, which is important for eye health. And they may even help reduce the risk of heart disease. On the flip side, tomatoes are part of the “nightshade” family (which also includes eggplants, peppers and potatoes) and have been linked to joint inflammation in some people.

Even with fall knocking on our door, you can still find copious amounts of locally grown tomatoes. Check out your local farm stand or market for varieties such as Cherokee Purple, Brandywine, Yellow Perfection and many more. Then get busy making your favorite recipe or simply eat them raw.

Greens have been a mainstay of southern cooking for centuries, a key component of any soul food dinner. Traditionally, greens were cooked for many hours, often using fatback (the layer of fat along the back of a pig) for flavor. The notion of greens was perfected by slaves, who got the leftover food from the plantation kitchen. By combining the greens with ham hocks and pigs feet, the meal provided needed sustenance. In addition, slaves benefited from drinking “pot likker” the cooking water from the greens, full of nutrients.

The truth today is that we can prepare greens, with relatively minimal effort and time, all the while creating delicious and nutritious dishes that pack a powerful punch. What’s so great about greens? Let us count the ways.

Greens such as kale, collards, spinach, and swiss chard are bursting with important vitamins and minerals to keep us strong like vitamins A, C, E and K. In addition, greens are full of calcium and provide a tasty and low fat alternative to dairy products. Moreover, greens pack a powerful punch with abundant amounts of magnesium, iron, potassium, zinc, folic acid and fiber.

And we’re only scratching the surface. Greens are powerful antioxidants to help prevent cancer, help cleanse and purify our systems and give us abundant energy. Recovering from a cold? Think greens. They help reduce mucus and clear up congestion. In need of some spring time cleansing? Greens will do the trick, helping to detoxify your liver and kidneys.
Simply put, going green is the way to go. And with plenty of options to eat them both raw and cooked, the possibilities are endless.

But with spring comes more activity, feeling lighter and brighter and often the desire to “shed some pounds.” To spring clean your body, give it a break from rich and complicated foods by either cleansing or fasting for a short period of time. Cleansing means paring down your food to just simple fruits and vegetables, lots of water and perhaps whole grains. Fasting means limiting most foods and drinking lots of water, fresh vegetable and fruit juices, teas and soups. Without much energy going towards digestion, more energy is available to the rest of your body and mind. Cleansing and fasting can sharpen your concentration, help you gain insight and promote spiritual awareness. It can also lead to improved immune function, better digestion and better absorption of nutrients.

The beauty of cleansing or fasting is that it doesn’t have to take a lot of time or money, but rather, some basic preparation and a desire to make some changes. What’s the best way to approach it? Here are a few ideas:

• choose simple low stress foods that don’t require a lot of preparation
• choose a week when your schedule is less busy and you can focus on enhancing your health
• buddy up with a friend or spouse to do a cleanse or fast, supporting each other in getting healthier
• be open to all the possibilities that exist as a result of lightening your load

Taking the time to slow down, reflect and do some spring cleaning – whether in your home, your heart or your stomach – can give you a new perspective in many aspects of your life. Just like spring, why not start anew?

There are many great reasons to slow down and chew your food. Saliva breaks down food into simple sugars, creating a sweet taste. The more we chew, the sweeter our food becomes, so we don’t crave those after-meal sweets. Chewing reduces digestive distress and improves assimilation, allowing our bodies to absorb maximum nutrition from each bite of food. More chewing produces more endorphins, the brain chemicals responsible for creating good feelings. It’s also helpful for weight loss, because when we are chewing well, we are more able to feel when we are full. In fact, chewing can promote healing and circulation, enhance immunity, increase energy and endurance, improve skin health and stabilize weight.

The power of chewing is so great that there are stories of concentration camp survivors who made it through their ordeals, when others did not, by chewing their meager rations up to 300 times per bite of food. For most of us 300 chews is a daunting and unrealistic goal. However, you can experience the benefits of chewing by increasing to 30 chews per bite. Try it and see how you feel.

Taking time with our meal, beginning with chewing, allows us to enjoy the whole experience of eating: the smells, flavors and textures. It helps us to give thanks, to show appreciation for the abundance in our lives and to develop patience and self-control. Try eating without the TV, computer, newspaper, or noisy company. Instead just pay attention to the food and to how you are breathing and chewing.

This kind of quiet can be confronting at first, since we are used to a steady stream of advertising, news, media, email, and demands from others. But as you create a new habit, you will begin to appreciate eating without rushing. You have to eat every day— why not learn to savor and enjoy it?